Giving Christ to the World – One Smile at a Time

Scripture Focus for July 2 R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Ps89:2a Are you righteous? Are you welcoming Jesus? “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me…And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” – Jesus (Mt 10:37-42) Giving and Receiving Christ     The only real oneness possible [is] Christ in us….In Holy Communion, millions of small hosts are given to millions of people; this does not mean Christ is divided into millions, but that the millions are made one in Christ. {Caryll met a woman during a Mass where there were no Communion hosts to receive. A ragged woman told her to come and a priest would divide her reserved host for them both. Caryll went. She gave Christ to me, Christ’s Passion to the world.]    At first sight, suffering seems broken up, unfairly divided. In reality it is the human race that is divided, suffering is a communion that makes us one, as sacramental Communion does. We can give Christ’s Passion to one another, as the poor woman gave Christ to me, and we can comfort Christ in one another in doing so…He gave us his Passion in his body, gave us himself, his suffering and his sacrifice, […]

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The Triumphant Passion Play

This journey doesn’t end well. Or does it? At Masses in the Catholic Church, we get to participate in Jesus’ life in a special way. It’s Palm Sunday! We get real palms that are blessed. We ‘welcome’ Jesus like they did on the road. Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. It doesn’t take long for us to enter into the worst part of the story. We hear the words of Jesus from the cross as he prays Psalm 22: My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Have you ever felt that way? At the worst or most painful moments, we can fear that God is not with us. Today, we participate in this drama with parts of our own: Crucify him! Pilate washes his hands of Jesus fate. We will free Barabbas instead. You see, like us, Pilate is able to decide what the truth is. He doesn’t stand for what is right. He gives in to public opinion as he sends Jesus to a horrible death. We stand by as Peter, overcome with fear, denies knowing Jesus and being his follower three times. You are not one of his disciples, are you? If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! Jesus is crucified but only one thief asks forgiveness as he tells Jesus to remember him when he comes into his […]

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